Seat Occupant Sensor: Description and Operation

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR

NOTE:
- It is necessary to rezero the OCS system when a front passenger seat cushion is disassembled, a new trim cover installed or an OCS service kit is installed. A diagnostic tool is used to trigger the active command to carry out rezeroing of the OCS system.
- The OCS is found only on the front passenger seat and is not equipped on all vehicles. A white tag having the letters OCS will appear under the front of the passenger seat to identify a seat equipped with an occupant classification sensor.

The seat OCS system is found only on the front passenger seat. The front passenger seat OCS system is comprised of a silicone gel-filled bladder mounted in the seat cushion, a pressure sensor that is mounted to the seat frame and an electronic control unit which is also mounted to the seat frame. Pressure is applied to the OCS bladder when weight of any occupant or object in the front passenger seat is present. The pressure is then transferred through a tube, is sensed by the OCS pressure sensor, then electronically communicated to the OCS electronic control unit. Based on programed limits, the OCS electronic control unit will inform the restraints control module (RCM), via a High Speed Controller Area Network (CAN), of the necessary information. The RCM uses this information in determining if the passenger air bag module or passenger seat side air bag module is to be deployed in the event of a deployable collision. The OCS system components (seat cushion foam pad, bladder with pressure sensor and electronic control unit) are calibrated to each other and are serviced as an assembly. OCS system components are not to be installed separately. If installing a new OCS system, OCS system component or seat cushion foam pad, a new OCS system service kit (seat cushion foam pad, bladder with pressure sensor and electronic control unit) must be installed as an assembly.